Central and peripheral analgesic active components of triterpenoid saponins from Stauntonia chinensis and their action mechanism.

Triterpenoid saponins from Stauntonia chinensis have been proven to be a potential candidate for inflammatory pain relief. Our pharmacological studies confirmed that the analgesic role of triterpenoid saponins from S. chinensis occurred via a particular increase in the inhibitory synaptic response in the cortex at resting state and the modulation of the capsaicin receptor. However, its analgesic active components and whether its analgesic mechanism are limited to this are not clear. In order to further determine its active components and analgesic mechanism, we used the patch clamp technique to screen the chemical components that can increase inhibitory synaptic response and antagonize transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, and then used in vivo animal experiments to evaluate the analgesic effect of the selected chemical components. Finally, we used the patch clamp technique and molecular biology technology to study the analgesic mechanism of the selected chemical components. The results showed that triterpenoid saponins from S. chinensis could enhance the inhibitory synaptic effect and antagonize the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 through different chemical components, and produce central and peripheral analgesic effects. The above results fully reflect that "traditional Chinese medicine has multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel synergistic regulation".

Dietary Catalase Supplementation Alleviates Deoxynivalenol-Induced Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Broiler Chickens.

Catalase (CAT) can eliminate oxygen radicals, but it is unclear whether exogenous CAT can protect chickens against deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplemental CAT on antioxidant property and gut microbiota in DON-exposed broilers. A total of 144 one-day-old Lingnan yellow-feathered male broilers were randomly divided into three groups (six replicates/group): control, DON group, and DON + CAT (DONC) group. The control and DON group received a diet without and with DON contamination, respectively, while the DONC group received a DON-contaminated diet with 200 U/kg CAT added. Parameter analysis was performed on d 21. The results showed that DON-induced liver enlargement (p < 0.05) was blocked by CAT addition, which also normalized the increases (p < 0.05) in hepatic oxidative metabolites contents and caspase-9 expression. Additionally, CAT addition increased (p < 0.05) the jejunal CAT and GSH-Px activities coupled with T-AOC in DON-exposed broilers, as well as the normalized DON-induced reductions (p < 0.05) of jejunal villus height (VH) and its ratio for crypt depth. There was a difference (p < 0.05) in gut microbiota among groups. The DON group was enriched (p < 0.05) with some harmful bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia/Shigella) that elicited negative correlations (p < 0.05) with jejunal CAT activity, and VH. DONC group was differentially enriched (p < 0.05) with certain beneficial bacteria (e.g., Acidobacteriota, Anaerofustis, and Anaerotruncus) that could benefit intestinal antioxidation and morphology. In conclusion, supplemental CAT alleviates DON-induced oxidative stress and intestinal damage in broilers, which can be associated with its ability to improve gut microbiota, aside from its direct oxygen radical-scavenging activity.

Efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine Jiangniaosuan formula for treatment of hyperuricemia: study protocol for a double-blinded non-inferiority randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Jiangniaosuan formula (JNSF) is commonly used in China for treating hyperuricemia, but there is little research-based evidence to support its use. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of JNSF. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with hyperuricemia will be selected and randomly assigned in a ratio of 1:2 to receive either Western medicine, i.e., febuxostat 40 mg (WG group; n = 24), or Chinese herbal medicine, i.e., Jiangniaosuan formula + febuxostat 20 mg (WJNSG group; n = 48). After 12 weeks, the WJNSG will be randomly divided into two groups of 24 patients each; one group (WJNSG; n = 24) still will receive febuxostat 20 mg + Jiangniaosuan formula, and the other group (JNSG; n = 24) will continue to receive Jiangniaosuan formula + placebo. Participants will be followed up at 4-week intervals. The primary outcome will be the change in serum uric acid level, and the secondary outcome will be the change in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores. Serum creatinine, blood glucose, and insulin levels will also be measured. DISCUSSION: We hypothesize that patients with hyperuricemia will benefit from JNSF. This study will provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians. DISSEMINATION: The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated by academic conferences. The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trials Register ChiCTR2000041083 . Registered on 3 May 2021. The protocol version number is V3.0, 20210301.

Effects of phosphorus on fruit soluble sugar and citric acid accumulations in citrus.

Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential macro-elements for plants. Sugar and organic acid are important factors affecting sensory characteristics of citrus fruit quality. The aim of this study was to investigate how P fertilizer affects quality improvement particularly sucrose (Suc), fructose (Fru), glucose (Glu) and citric acid (CA) accumulations in Cara Cara navel. P fertilizer improved fruit quality of Cara Cara navel, as supported by decreasing titratable acid (TA), CA and increasing soluble solid (TSS), sugars and the ratio of TSS and TA. At the early stage of fruit development, P fertilizer had greater roles in degrading Suc into Fru and Glu due to the increased activities of Suc-degrading enzymes including acid invertase, neutral invertase and Suc synthase-cleavage activity. Coversely, at the mid and late stages of fruit development, P fertilizer had greater roles in re-synthesizing Suc due to the increased activities of Suc-synthesizing enzymes including Suc phosphate synthase and Suc synthase-synthetic activity. These results indicated that application of P fertilizer increased soluble sugars concentrations by improving Suc metabolism and sink strength in fruit conferred by the upregulations of the activities of Suc-degrading and Suc-synthesizing enzymes. P fertilizer decreased CA accumulations at least partially by inhibiting synthesis of CA due to the decreased activities of CA-synthesizing enzymes including citrate synthetase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. This study suggested that P fertilizer, particularly fertilized with 0.40 kg/plant, increased soluble sugars but decreased CA accumulations in citrus fruit.

A Clinical Multicenter Randomized Controlled Study on JianpiQinghua Decoction in Treating Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease with A Syndrome Type of Dampness-heat due to Spleen Deficiency.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of JianpiQinghua decoction in treating stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD3) with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency. Methods A multicenter, randomized, controlled, prospective, double-blind, and double-simulation study was undertaken. A total of 270 CKD3 patients with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency from the outpatient departments of six general hospitals were randomly divided into telmisartan+analog traditional Chinese medicine (TA) group, traditional Chinese medicine+analog telmisartan (TCMA) group, and telmisartan+traditional Chinese medicine (TTCM) group, in which the corresponding treatment was applied in addition to basic treatment. Six months later, changes in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical symptom scores and renal functions before and after treatment were compared among these three groups. Results Of these 270 CKD3 patients who had been enrolled in this study, 30 cases lost to follow-up. The baseline data were comparable among these three groups. After treatment, the TCM clinical symptom scores of both syndrome of spleen-qi deficiency and dampness-heat in TA group were significantly higher than those in TCMA group and TTCM group (P<0.001). With the treatment time prolonged, the TCM clinical symptom scores showed similar descending trends in TCMA group and TTCM group but were different from that in TA group. After treatment, abnormal creatinine rate decreased (P=0.003), and these three treatments and their interactions with each visit had no effect on serum urea nitrogen value (P=0.270, P=0.520); with prolonged treatment, the estimated glomerular filtration rates in three groups tended to be relatively stable after the first rise. The liver function and abnormal serum potassium rate were not statistically significant before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions JianpiQinghua decoction can improve clinical symptoms of TCM in CKD3 patients with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency and thus improve the quality of life and prognosis. The clinical efficacy of JianpiQinghua decoction alone or combined with telmisartan is superior to telmisartan monotherapy.

Effects of dietary lysine levels on apparent nutrient digestibility and cationic amino acid transporter mRNA abundance in the small intestine of finishing pigs, Sus scrofa.

One hundred and twenty pigs were used to evaluate the effects of different dietary lysine levels on the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, and abundance of cationic amino acid transporter messenger RNA (mRNA) in the small intestine of finishing pigs. Pigs received a low lysine diet (LL, 0.60% lysine), moderate lysine diet (ML, 0.80% lysine) or a high lysine diet (HL, 1.00% lysine) for 28 days. A digestion test was carried out during the third week. Although the apparent nutrient digestibility in pigs fed experimental diets were different (P < 0.05) and the highest when pigs were fed ML diet, diets did not change the growth performance. In the duodenum, mRNA abundance of PepT-1, as detected by real-time RT-PCR, was reduced in the LL diet (P < 0.05). A greater abundance of b(0,+) AT and PepT-1 mRNA was associated with the ML diet (P < 0.05) in the jejunum and ileum, respectively. In the ileum, the HL diet had a lower abundance of CAT-1 mRNA compared with other diets. These results showed that the finishing pigs would gain better nutrient digestibility when the dietary lysine content was 0.80%, and dietary lysine levels influenced the expression of cationic amino acid transporter mRNA in the small intestine of finishing pigs.

Analysis of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in heavy products derived from coal and petroleum by high performance liquid chromatography.

A systematic study was made on the identification and quantitative determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in heavy products derived from coal and petroleum with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After the separation of PAHs by a high-resolution column, identification was made through four methods: (1) the relative retention time (RRT) method, (2) the stop-flow-UV scanning method, (3) the method of fluorescence characteristic index Phi' and (4) the method of V' index at different UV wavelengths. For the quantitative determination of the components, methods of external standard (E-X), internal standard (I-N) and external standard-response factors (E-F) were compared. The E-F method was recommended by the present paper. For the determination of quantitative response factors (F) two methods were studied, including the HPLC peak-area method (Peak-area method) and the UV absorbance method using a UV spectrometer (absorbance method). The absorbance method was better and is recommended by the present paper. The F values of 30 PAHs from the two different methods are given. The samples analyzed include a coal tar pitch, a thermal cracking residue oil and a residual oil from ethylene production.